About Emily Turnbull
Emily is a partner in Allens' Melbourne Disputes & Investigations Practice Group. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation, acting for large corporates and listed companies across sectors in class actions, complex disputes and regulatory enforcement (including ASIC, APRA, AFP, AER and CER). She also has expertise in cross-border investigations and international complaint processes. Emily works closely with boards and legal counsel to identify and manage disputes risk and navigate regulatory pressure—including by designing and enhancing corporate compliance, governance and risk frameworks.
Emily has extensive experience in environmental, social and governance matters and co-leads Allens' ESG and Business Human Rights practices. She was recognised as one to watch in Chambers & Partners 2025 Business Human Rights Law.
Before joining Allens in 2018, Emily was a member of the Disputes and Investigations Group at Slaughter and May in London, and then the Environment and Climate Law Group at Allen and Overy, also in London.
Emily's experience at Allens includes:
- Class action proceedings in the Federal Court (and on appeal to the Full Federal Court and High Court) regarding allegedly defective vehicle transmissions
- Representative proceedings in the PNG and Singapore courts for global resources companies, including for allegations of environmental damage and related breaches of fiduciary duties
- Breach of contract claims and contract pricing disputes
- Private litigation in the Victorian Supreme Court, including in relation to allegations of nuisance
- Issues arising under international investment agreements and treaties for multinational resources companies
- Advising on the application of biosecurity duty of care legislation and related private claims
- Final injunction application by strategic litigants in the Federal Court concerning alleged climate change impacts
- Defending applications in the Federal Court by strategic litigants in relation to sustainability commitments and regarding risk management and reporting of climate change and nature-related risks
- Activist proceedings to quash the EPA's decision to amend operational air emissions limits (test case in relation to the requirements of the Climate Change Act 2017 (Vic))
- AER, AFP, APRA and ASIC investigations and enforcement actions, including for various superannuation funds
- AER enforcement proceedings in the Federal Court in relation to the 2016 South Australia black system event
- Royal Commissions, enquiries and coronial investigations, including the Aged Care and Disability Royal Commissions
- Material and cross-border investigations in areas including human rights and modern slavery, corporate crime and fraud
- Non-judicial complaints to the OECD National Contact Points and UN Special Procedures relating to alleged environmental and social impacts, including at operations in Australia, Chile, the Philippines and PNG
- Grievances by Traditional Owners regarding alleged environmental and social impacts, including in relation to banks and superannuation funds
- Strategic litigation planning and preparedness, including as regards AGM preparation and shareholder activism, sustainability disclosures and assurance, and alignment with international laws and frameworks
- Head office support, including on ESG strategy, policy design and value chain risk management
- Design of community engagement programs, grievance mechanisms and remediation processes.